Positioning device for rock drills



Jam 3, 1967 KARL-ERIK QVARNSTRM ETAL 3,295,800

POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed Oct. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 3, 1967 KARL-ER|K QVARNSTRM ETAL 3,295,800

POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed Oct. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Shea?v 2 I Kani-EM( Qvnmmoww/ENTOR United States 'Patent 3,295,8@50 Patented dan, 3, 1967 fice 3,295,800 POSITIONMNIG DEVHCE FUR RCK Dlitlltlb Karl-Erik Qvarnstrm, Vcndclso, and Carl Valfrid Rune Skattman, Ektorp, Sweden, assignors to atlas Copco Aktiebolag, Nacka, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 407,053 Claims priority, application Sweden, (ict. 3l, 11%3, 12,623/63 14 Claims. (Cl. 243-13) The present 4invention relates generally to positioning devices for rock drills a-nd more specifically to a positioning device in which a feed shell carrying reciprocally a r-ock drill thereon `is linked by means of a parallel motion link system to a substructure in a manner allowing the feed shell to be moved by power from a position adjacent the substructure to a posi-tion remote therefrom and vice versa.

In hitherto available positioning devices of this type it is a considerable drawback that the link system during positioning of the feed shell causes a longitudinal displace- :ment of the shell relative to the substructure. During drilling of a vertical rock face one therefore usually has to resort to time-consuming longitudinal adjustments of the feed shell or of the entire substructure for bringing the rst frame or the feed shell in the correct position with respect to the r-ock. Furthermore manoeuvering of the link system has hitherto `in most cases been performed by time-consuming manual operations or by a plurality of lrelatively costly power mechanisms.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these drawbacks so that a rock face substantially perpendicular or transverse to the pivot axis of the second frame upon adjustment of the substructure can be provided with drill holes in all the desired levels by means of a relatively simple and quick-acting manoeuvering mechanism without the substructure having to be readjusted. A further object of the invention is to provide a positioning device in which the link system can be operated for producing parallel displacement of the feed shell by means of a single pressure fluid operated ram operatively connected to the system. A still further object of the invention is to provide a positioning device capable of positioning the rock drill by power to alternative substantial parallel drilling positions according to a polar coordinate system. To this end there is journalled a frame on the substructure carrying the parallel motion link system and feed shell pivotally about a longitudinal axis defining the polar axis in the coordinate system while the radius vector in the system can be set by adjusting thelink system carrying the feed shell.

The invention will be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the positioning device according to the invention `in extended position. FIG. 2 shows the positioning device in FIG. l in contracted position. FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged view seen substantially on the line 3 3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear View of the device in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the upper frame of the positioning device in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view -on the line 6 6 in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the turning device in FIG. 4 for the lower frame of the positioning device.

In FIG. 1 the numeral 10 designates two upstanding brackets on an elongated mobile substructure, not shown7 for example a wheeled drill wagon. At their upper ends the brackets Iii carry coaxial journals Il in which the opposite ends of an elongated rod shaped frame l2 are pivotally journalled. Beyond one of the journals il the frame 12 carries an arm 13 projecting laterally. Between a pivot Id at the end of the arm I3 and a pivot I5 on the adjacent bracket I@ is inserted a pressure fluid actuated double acting power cylinder I6. By extension or contraction of the pressure cylinder 16 the frame 12 obviously can be turned about its longitudinal axis.

By the frame 12 are carried pairs of longitudinally spaced parallel pivots 17 and 13 projecting laterally in opposite directions. The two pivots I7 are supporting pivotally thereon a first toggle system consisting of a pair of links i9, Ztl while the two pivots I8 in similar manner are supporting pivotally thereon a second toggle system formed by ranother double pair of links 2l, Z2 parallel with the respective links I9, Ztl. The knee joints of the two toggle systems are designated by 231 and 24 and are interconnected by elements formed by a pair of links 25 parallel with one another and with the frame 12;. The links Ztl, 22 of the toggle systems are provided with pivots 26, 27 at their upper ends carrying an upper frame 28 which is parallel with the frame 12. As depictedin the figures the distances between the pivots 26, 27, the knee joints 23, 2d and the pivots I7, liti are equal and the links Iii-22 of the toggle systems are also of equal length. The upper frame 2S includes a rear bracket 29 carrying the pivots 26 at opposite ends thereof. At its upper end the rear bracket is provided with guiding rails 3f) affixed thereto for example by means of screws. The front pivots 27 of the upper frame 2S are formed by an integral axle on the central part of which is lpivotally journaliled a bell crank lever 3l which at one end carries a pivot 32 and at the other forwardly pointing end carries an axle 33. Between the pivot 32 and a pivot 34 which is fastened to the inside of the upper frame Z3, is coupled. a pressure fluid actuated double acting power cylinder Sdi. By extension or contraction of the cylinder 351 the axle 33 obviously can be turned in upward or downward direction with respect to the upper frame 28. An elongated plate 35 also carries guiding rails thereon and is pivotally journalled by means of ears 36, FIG. 6, on the ends of the axle 33. A pivot 37 is fastened to the underside of the rear end of the plate and carries pivotally thereon a double `acting power cylinder 38, the other end of which is fixed to the rear end of a feed shell @ttl to a pivot 39 thereon.

The feed shell itl consists for example of U-irons fixed relative to one another in an opstanding position with the fianges in outward direction. The lower flanges of the irons are longitudinally slidably guided between the guide rails 3o. The power cylinder 33 furthermore projects slidably through a bore 4i in the rear bracket 29. By extension or contraction of the power cylinder 38 the feed shell can be moved longitudinally Vand can be adjusted to bring t-he forward end of the feed shell di) close tothe rock face past the irregularities thereof.

The eed shell 40 carri-es a rock drill 4.2 slidably thereon which is reciprocable therealong and carries a drill steel 43. The drill steel d3 is guided by means of a conventional .remotely controlled drill steel centralizer 44 arranged forwardly on the feed shell 4t). A feed motor 45 is indicated diagrammatically forwardly on the feed shell The details pertaining to the feed shell and the rock drill only show diagrammatically since they are per se well known in the art yand do not need to be described more in detail in the present connection. Furthermore the hoses and conduits, which in conventional manner connect the rock drill and the power cylinders of the positioning device to suitable pressure sources, not shown, have been omitted in the figures in order to facilitate illustration.

By extension or contraction of the power cylinder 351 the axle 33 of the bell crank lever 31 can be turned, and the front end of the plate 35 is elevated or lowered together with the forward end of the feed shell 40, which simultaneously herewith turns about the pivots 26 of the rear bracket 29. Turning of the bell crank lever 31 evidently also results in some small longitudinal displacement of the plate 35 together with the power cylinder 38, which is displaced in the bore 41 of the bracket 29. Longitudinal movement of the power cylinder 3E also moves the feed shell d@ somewhat in its sliding support provided by the guiding rails Sti. The angular setting of the feed shell 40 thus performed is used when roof holes or bottom holes or peripheral holes are to be drilled. Normally, however, the feed shell 4t) rests against the upper frame 2E in the position shown in FlG. l and is displaced in parallel relation to the lower frame 12 by means f the link system 19-22.

The parallel displacement of the upper frame 28 is by means of a do-uble acting power ram d6 which is affixed between the pivots 23 in coplanar relation to the links 2S. The piston rod end of the ram t6 carries a transverse axle 47 forming the knee joints of a double pair of short links 48, i9 in a secondary toggle, which by lmeans of axles 50, 51, FIG. l, are pivoted to the middle portions of the long links 19, 20. In analogous manner an axle 52 provides the knee joints of a secondary toggle consistingy of a double pair of links 53, d which by means of axles 6d, 61 are pivoted to the middle portions of the long links 21, 22. Between the knee joint axles 47, 52 there extends a long manoeuvering link 55 which passes slidably through a bore S6 provided in a body portion, FIG. 3, integral with and intermediate the pivots 24.

When the piston rod of the ram 46 by the action of pressure iluid'is moved in the one direction or the other, the movement thereof is transmitted to the axle 47, the manoeuvering link 55 and the axle 52. During such movement the short links 48, 49 and 53, 5d perfo-rm their secondary toggle action by moving the link systems 19-22 apart or together so that parallel displacement lof the feed `shell is produced with respect to the lower frame 12 from the contracted position depicted in FlG. '2 to the extended position in FIG. l and vice versa. Drilling by means of the positioning device can be per- 'formed in these and in any intermediate position and by manipulating the power cylinder 16 the desired angular Vsetting of the positioning device can be brought about enabling the holes to be placed according to a polar coordinate system. In this system the turning axis of the lower fra-me 12 forms the polar axis while the radius `vector is defined by parallel adjustment of the feed shell relative to the frame 12 by the aid of the link system '19-22. Obviously the brackets 1i] of the drill wagon Iif necessary can be provided with two or more positionfing devices including frames parallel to one another and 'positioned in different starting angles whereby the reach tof the drill wagon can be extended as desired.

In case a wider angular turnability of the frame 12 is desired there can be used a device according to FIG. '7 in which a power cylinder 57 turnable about the longitudinal axis of the frame 12 is fixed pivotally by a means lof links 58, 59 on the one hand to the arm 13 and on the other to the adjacent bracket 1G. The arrangement fin this instance is such that one by turning of the power cylinder for example 90 degrees with respect to the bracket attains a turn of 18() degrees of the arm 13 as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 7.

The turning arrangement of FIG. 7 is described in full detail in the copending U.S. patent specification Serial Number 89,234 of W. Meyer, which has the same assignee as the invention herein.

What We claim is:

1. A positioning device for rock drills for positioning a rock drill into a plurality of alternative drilling positions according to a polar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising a substructure having coaxial spaced apart journals thereon, an elongated frame rotatably mounted in said journals the axis thereof being along the polar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell for longitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon and having feeding means thereon for eeding and retracting a rock drill thereon along said feed shell, a parallel motion link system linked between said feed shell and said frame for providing translatory motion of said feed shell relative to said frame into a plurality of selected parallel positions lwithout change in the relative longitudinal position between said feed shell and said frame, the said link system with the said feed shell disposed thereon extending radially from said frame along a plane including the axis of said frame with the extent of movement of said feed shell away from said frame being along the radius of said polar coordinate system, power Imeans disposed upon said substructure and connected to said frame for the rotating thereof and said link system and said feed shell disposed thereon for defining the angular position of said feed shell and said link system about the axis of said frame, and a single pressure fiuid operated ram connected to said link system for the operation thereof for translating said feed shell relative to said frame into `one of the said plurality of parallel positions.

2. A positioning device as -described in claim 1 in which longitudinally spaced pivots are disposed adjacent said feed shell and on said frame and in which said link system is linked to the said pivots on said frame and the said pivots disposed adjacent said feed shell and including means in said link system for permanently maintaining said pivots in a pair of spaced parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said frame in all the selected positions of said feed shell.

3. In rock drilling apparatus of the character described for positioning rock `drills into a plurality of drilling positions according to a polar coordinate system and having a substructure with a pair of spaced apart coaxial journals disposed thereon and an elongated first frame rotatably disposed in said journals with the axis thereof being along the polar axis of the said coordinate system, the combination which comprises a first pair of spaced parallel pivots disposed `on said rst frame and perpendicular thereto, a parallel motion link system with one end thereof connected to said first pair of pivots, a second elongated frame disposed adjacent said link system at the end thereof opposite said first pair of pivots for carrying an elongated feed shell and a rock drill longitudinally and movably thereon, a second pair of pivots perpendicular to said second frame and pivotally connecting said second elongated frame to said link system, said link system providing translatory motion of said secon-d frame relative to said first frame into a plurality of selected parallel positions without change in the relative longitudinal position between said first and second frames, with said link system and the said second frame disposed thereon extending radially from the first frame in along a plane including the axis of said first frame and the extent of movement of said second frame away from said first frame being along the radius vector of said polar coordinate system, power means on said first frame for the rotation thereof in said journals for defining the angular position of said second frame relative to the axis of said first frame, and a single pressure fluid operated ram connected to said link system for providing the said translatory motion thereto for moving said second frame with respect to said first frame into said plurality of selected positions.

4. A positioning device according to claim 3 in which means are included in said parallel motion link system for permanently maintaining said pivots in a pair of spaced parallel planes perpendicular to said axis in all the alternative positions of said feed shell.

S. A positioning device according to claim 3 in which the link system includes two toggle systems spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction Vof said frames and having their opposite ends journalled on said pivots of said frames.

6. A positioning device according to claim 5 in which knee joints are included in each toggle system `and in which the said knee joints are interconnected by elements extending in parallel relation to said frames.

'7. A positioning device according to claim 6 in which the distances between the pivots of each said pair of pivots on the respective frames as well as between said knee joints are equal.

8. A positioning device according to claim 5 in which the corresponding links of the two toggle systems are parallel to one another and of equal length.

9. In rock drilling apparatus of the ycharacter described for positioning rock drills into a plurality of drilling positions according to a polar coordinate system and having a substructure 'with a pair -of spaced apart coaxial journals thereon, and an elongated first frame rotatably disposed in said journals with the axis thereof being along the polar axis of the said coordinate system, the combination which comprises a first pair of spaced parallel pivots disposed on said first frame and perpendicular thereto, a parallel motion link system with one end thereof connected to said first pair of pivots, a second elongated frame disposed adjacent said link system at the end thereof opposite said first pair of pivots, an elongated feed shell longitudinaily movable disposed upon said second frame for carrying a rock drill thereon along said feed shell, a second pair of pivots perpendicular to said second frame and pivotally connecting said second frame to said link system, said link system providing translatory motion of sai-d second frame relative to said first frame into a plurality of selected parallel positions without change in the relative longitudinal position between said first and second frames with said link system and the said second frame disposed thereon extending radially from the rst frame along a plane including the axis of said first frame and the extent of movement of said second frame away from said first frame being along the radius vector of said polar coordinate system, power means on said first frame for the rotation thereof in said journals for defining the angular position of said feed shell upon said second frame relative to the axis of `said first frame, said link system including two toggle systems spaced from one another longitudinally of said first and second frames and having their opposite ends journaled on said first and second pairs of pivots, knee joints disposed in each of said toggle systems and interconnected by elements extending in parallel relation to said frames, and a single pressure fluid operated ram co-planar with said elements and having secondary toggles drivingly connecting the said ram between the links of the spaced toggle system for providing the said translatory motion thereto for moving said second frame with respect to said first frame into said plurality of selected positions.

10. A positioning device according to claim 9 in 'which said ram is coupled between the knee joint of one of the toggle systems and the knee joint of the secondary toggle linked to said system, a manoeuvering link passing slidably through the knee joint of the other toggle system and being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the knee joints of fboth secondary toggles.

if. A positioning device according to claim 3 which includes a fee-d shell disposed upon said second frame and in which said feed shell is longitudinally movably journalled on said second frame there being provided power means between said second frame and said shell for the longitudinal adjustment of the latter.

l2. A positioning device according to claim 3 which includes a feed shell longitudinally movably disposed upon said second frame and in which there are provided means for movably supporting one end portion of said feed shell relative to said second frame in direction perpendicular thereto, and power means on said second frame for thus movingsaid end portion for defining the angular inclination of said feed shell relative to said axis.

13. A positioning device for rock drills for positioning a rock drill to a plurality of alternative drilling positions according to a polar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising a substructure having coaxial journals thereon spaced in the longitudinal direction of said substructure, an elongated frame pivotally mounted on said journals about an axis extending longitudinally of said substructure and being along the polar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell for longitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon and having feeding means thereon for feeding and retracting said rock drill along said feed shell, longitudinally widely spaced parallel pivots on said frame and said feed shell and perpendicular thereto, a duality of toggle systems spaced transversely of said frame and said feed shell and having their opposite ends journaledl on said pivots to form a parallel motion link system linked between said feed shell and said frame for translating said feed shell relative to said frame into a plurality of selected parallel positions without change in the relative longitudinal position between said shell and said frame, the said link system with the said feed shell disposed thereon extending radially from the said frame in a plane including the axis of said frame with the extent of movement of said feed shell from said frame being along the radius vector of said polar coordinate system, power means on said substructure and operatively connected to said frame for rotating said frame with the said toggle systems and said feed shell attached in said journals and r about the axis of said frame for defining the angular position of said feed shell about said axis, and a single pressure iiuid operated ram operatively connected to both said toggle systems for translating said feed shell to the desired position in parallel relation to said frame.

141 A positioning device as described in claim ll which includes a second power means disposed between said second frame and said feed shell for reciprocating -said feed shell along said second frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,614,807 10/1952 Curtis 248-13 2,690,896 10/1954 Bissell et al 248*l3 3,165,197 l/1965 Allen et al. 248-157 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

JOHN PETO, Examiner. 

1. A POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS FOR POSITIONING A ROCK DRILL INTO A PLURALITY OF ALTERNATIVE DRILLING POSITIONS ACCORDING TO A POLAR COORDINATE SYSTEM, SAID POSITIONING DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTRUCTURE HAVING COAXIAL SPACED APART JOURNALS THEREON, AN ELONGATED FRAME ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID JOURNALS THE AXIS THEREOF BEING ALONG THE POLAR AXIS OF SAID COORDINATE SYSTEM, AN ELONGATED FEED SHELL FOR LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY CARRYING A ROCK DRILL THEREON AND HAVING FEEDING MEANS THEREON FOR FEEDING AND RETRACTING A ROCK DRILL THEREON ALONG SAID FEED SHELL, A PARALLEL MOTION LINK SYSTEM LINKED BETWEEN SAID FEED SHELL AND SAID FRAME FOR PROVIDING TRANSLATORY MOTION OF SAID FEED SHELL RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME INTO A PLURALITY OF SELECTED PARALLEL POSITION BETWEEN SAID FEED SHELL THE RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL POSITION BETWEEN SAID FEED SHELL AND SAID FRAME, THE SAID LINK SYSTEM WITH THE SAID FEED SHELL DISPOSED THEREON EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID FRAME ALONG A PLANE INCLUDING THE AXIS OF SAID FRAME WITH THE 